In this groundbreaking book, Akbar Ahmed, one of the world's leading
authorities on Islam, who has worked in the Muslim world but lives in
the West, explains what is going wrong in his society by referring to
Islamic history and beliefs. Employing theological and anthropological
perspectives, he attempts to answer the questions that people in the
West are asking about Islam: "Why do they hate us?" "Is Islam compatible
with democracy?" "Does Islam subjugate women?" "Does the Quran preach
violence?" These important questions are of relevance to Muslims and to
non-Muslims alike. Islam Under Siege points out the need for, and
provides the route to, the dialogue of civilizations.
September 11, 2001, underlined the role of Islam in our time. In its
demographic spread, its political span, and its religious commitment,
Islam will be an increasingly forceful presence on the world stage in
the twenty-first century. While some scholars predict that there will be
a clash of civilizations, others see a need for a dialogue of
civilizations.
This book will help students, scholars of politics, sociology,
international relations, and cultural studies, and reporters as well as
a more general audience interested in some of the most important issues
of our time.